[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 106--ENCOURAGING AND PROMOTING GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF 
FATHERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES AND DESIGNATING FATHER'S DAY 2001, AS 
                 ``NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE FATHER'S DAY''

  Mr. BAYH (for himself and Mr. Domenici) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 106

       Whereas 40 percent of children who live in fatherless 
     households have not seen their fathers in at least 1 year, 
     and 50 percent of the children have never visited their 
     fathers' homes;
       Whereas approximately 50 percent of all children born in 
     the United States spend at least \1/2\ of their childhood in 
     families without father figures;
       Whereas nearly 20 percent of children in grades 6 through 
     12 report that they have not had a meaningful conversation 
     with even 1 parent in more than 1 month;
       Whereas 3 out of 4 adolescents report that they do not have 
     adults in their lives that model positive behaviors;
       Whereas many of the leading experts on family and child 
     development in the United States agree that it is in the best 
     interest of both children and the United States to encourage 
     more 2-parent, father-involved families;
       Whereas it is important to promote responsible fatherhood 
     and encourage loving and healthy relationships between 
     parents and their children in order to increase the chance 
     that children will have 2 caring parents to help them grow up 
     healthy and secure and not to--
       (1) denigrate the standing or parenting efforts of single 
     mothers, whose efforts are heroic;
       (2) lessen the protection of children from abusive parents;
       (3) cause women to remain in or enter into abusive 
     relationships; or
       (4) compromise the health or safety of a custodial parent;
       Whereas children who are apart from their biological 
     fathers are, in comparison to other children--
       (1) 5 times more likely to live in poverty;
       (2) more likely to be abused; and
       (3) more likely to--
       (A) bring weapons and drugs into the classroom;
       (B) commit crime;
       (C) drop out of school;
       (D) commit suicide;
       (E) abuse alcohol or drugs; and
       (F) become pregnant as teenagers;
       Whereas the Federal Government spends billions of dollars 
     to address these social ills and very little to address the 
     causes of such social ills;
       Whereas millions of single mothers in the United States are 
     heroically struggling to raise their children in safe, loving 
     environments;
       Whereas millions of men do act responsibly and could serve 
     as role models for absent fathers;
       Whereas responsible fatherhood should always recognize and 
     promote values of nonviolence;
       Whereas child support is an important means by which a 
     parent can take financial responsibility for a child, and 
     emotional support is an important means by which a parent can 
     take social responsibility for a child;
       Whereas children learn by example, and community programs 
     that help mold young men into positive role models for their 
     children need to be encouraged; and
       Whereas Congress has begun to take notice of this issue 
     with legislation introduced in both the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate to address the epidemic of 
     absent fathers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates Father's Day 2001, as ``National Responsible 
     Father's Day'';
       (2) recognizes the need to encourage active involvement of 
     fathers in the rearing and development of their children;
       (3) recognizes that while there are millions of fathers who 
     serve as a wonderful caring parent for their children, there 
     are children on Father's Day who will have no one to 
     celebrate with;
       (4) urges fathers to participate in their children's lives, 
     both financially and emotionally;
       (5) encourages fathers to devote time, energy, and 
     resources to their children;
       (6) urges fathers to understand the level of responsibility 
     required when fathering a child and to fulfill that 
     responsibility;
       (7) is committed to assisting absent fathers to become more 
     responsible and engaged in their children's lives;
       (8) calls upon fathers around the country to use the day to 
     reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's 
     lives, to spend ``National Responsible Father's Day'' with 
     their children, and to express their love and support for 
     their children; and
       (9) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Responsible Father's Day'' with appropriate 
     ceremonies and activities.

                          ____________________